Did you know that over 16 million new victims of identity theft are reported to law enforcement every year? According to The Federal Trade Commission, identity theft is the fastest growing crime in America.
Those most vulnerable to computer fraud are the very young and the elderly. Individuals under 18 years of age don’t usually check their credit report for anomalies, but some parents have been surprised to find out that their child has a fraudulent credit file.
Technology and the Internet have bred cyber thieves around the world, creating a constant challenge for law enforcement officials. Consumers, fearing that hackers will intercept their personal information to commit fraud, feel less safe using the Internet for electronic commerce. This lack of consumer confidence in the internet marketplace can impact global trade, as well as consumer privacy.
Over the past few years, cybercrime and data breaches have become a top concern for businesses of all types and sizes. Cybersecurity solutions are becoming smarter and more effective, but no one remedy will provide complete protection, either in the short- or long-term.
Many issues contribute to this trend, from the relentless nature of hackers and cybercriminals to the growing penetration of the Internet of Things (IoT) in the workplace. Connected devices may be improving the way we work, but in some cases, they are opening networks to new vulnerabilities.
The Best Defense Against Cybercrime
While you may think that a high-tech problem such as cybercrime requires a high-tech solution (and you wouldn’t be wrong), the best defense is much more straightforward – educating yourself, your family, and your employees to spot the red flags leading to a breach. According to cyber security expert Mack Jackson Jr. at https://mackjacksonjr.com/, here are some of the best ways to prevent identity theft:
Knowledge is Power
The best way to protect your personal identification information, or PII, is to be aware of how you use it or allow it to be used. The loss of your private information is a serious issue, and it could cost you significant time and money to reestablish your stolen identity. There are a number of basic steps you can take to protect yourself and your family from identitiy theft or fraud:
- Keep track of your wallet and purse.
- Don’t carry your Social Security card or those of your children or spouse. Typically it’s not necessary to have your Social Security card readily available, and your Social Security Number is the primary target thieves use to obtain your personal information.
- If your Social Security number is on your health insurance card, remove that from your wallet or purse also.
- Consider keeping your driver’s license in a separate holder. This way, even if your wallet is stolen, your driver’s license and the personal information contained on it may still be safe.
- Don’t carry all your credit cards with you. If you take only one card at a time, you reduce the risk of someone gaining access to all your accounts.
- Don’t carry a list of Internet passwords with you.
- Keep photocopies and records of your credit cards and other accounts in a safe place. This will make it easier to quickly cancel your account if your card is stolen. Keep records of your Internet providers, banks, and other passwords in the same place.
- Never give your Social Security number to someone without knowing the recipient. If you’re asked for your Social Security number, always ask why it’s needed, and don’t feel obligated to provide it. Ask if there is some other information you can provide instead of this valuable personal information.
- Change your mail habits – use a locked box, consider renting a post office box, and drop bills into an official U.S. locked mailbox instead of leaving them in a non-secured personal mailbox in front of your house. Never place sensitive outgoing mail into an open bin at school or work.
- Safeguard your banking information. When you order new checks, have them delivered to the bank for pickup instead of your home or office. Better yet, consider paying your bills online. Most banks and creditors now have online bill payment services. Many companies will even send electronic invoices directly to your email account.
- Shred sensitive documents and mail before you dispose of them. You can find inexpensive personal shredders at discount, department, or office stores. Your best option is a cross-cut, or “diamond” shredder, but any shredder is better than none. You should shred:
Credit card receipts and applications
Expired credit cards
Account statements
Loan applications
Court records
Anything containing your Social Security number, or other personal information
- You might also consider scanning documents and saving them on your computer before shredding the originals. Don’t forget to back up your saved scanned documents!
- Be cautious with credit, debit, and ATM cards. While you can’t guarantee a waiter won’t ‘skim’ your credit card, you can minimize risk by using it less. Always verify credit charges with your bank. By doing this online, you can avoid waiting for your bank statements to arrive.
- ATMs can have undetectable skimmers, and independent ATMs are more likely to have been tampered with than those that belong to banks. Be sure no one is looking over your shoulder when you use an ATM!
- Never give out your credit card number, either over the phone or in person, unless you initiate the purchase.
- Copy the front and back of your credit cards, as well as customer service numbers. Store the information in a safe place. (Again, consider scanning this information to save on your computer.)
Developing good habits like those we’ve listed will help protect you from the kinds of identity theft that can occur on the street (or at the post office!) Encourage your family to follow the same steps, and you’ll have taken a big step toward identity protection.
What Can You Do To Be Safe Online?
When it comes to specifically computer-based crimes, you’ll want to observe a few more precautions to ensure your identity (and money) stay safe. Possibly the most important action you can take is also one of the easiest: keep up-to-date anti-virus and anti-spying software on all your family’s computers, tablets, and phones. The “up-to-date” part is important – scammers are constantly developing new computer viruses, and your ability to avoid them is dependent on your security software recognizing them. Here are a few other steps you can take to stay safe online:
- To avoid phishing scams, never follow a hyperlink in an email or text. Verify the official address of the company’s website yourself, or call the company to see if the email or text is legitimate.
- Don’t respond to “remove me from your list” links. This type of notification will tell a scammer that your email address is active, making you a potential mark for a scam. Most email software programs have spam folders for these and other unwanted emails, that are then purged from your inbox.
- Never give information over the Internet unless the transaction originated with you. Protect yourself from illicit telemarketers by requesting that they mail you information about products that interest you. Never give personal information or credit card numbers to unsolicited callers!
For additional protections online and at home, you can also register with the National Do-Not-Call Registry (www.donotcall.gov) and the Direct Marketing Association (www.dmaconsumers.org) to help protect you from unwanted calls, letters, and emails. (You can contact the Direct Marketing Association by mail at Mail Preference Services, Direct Marketing Association, P.O. Box 643, Carmel NY 1051.) With a few exceptions, once you have registered with the National Do-Not-Call Registry, telemarketers generally cannot call your phone for five years.
If you’d like to read more about the world of cybercrimes, check out our blog post “The Rise of Ransomware, here. Remember, identity theft is a serious issue that can have a huge negative affect on your life. We can help fight identity theft with knowledge and awareness of our personal information. Stay focused, and #staycyberwoke!
Need help maintaining your cybersecurity or updating your current level of protection? Call us at Pegasus Online! We’ll be happy to help!
About the author
Mack Jackson Jr is a cybersecurity consultant, speaker, TV host, and professor of business management. He has worked in cybersecurity for over 15 years, and has over 25 years in the information technology industry. For further information, please email [email protected].
